37 Countries Discuss Measures To Combat Spread Of Infectious Diseases

Jakarta, Aug 20 (Antara) - A total of 37 countries will discuss ways to strengthen the global fight against the threat of infectious diseases in the Global Meeting on Infectious Diseases held in Jakarta on August 19-21, 2014. "During the meeting, we want to review the progress that has been achieved, if it can be measured through reliable indicators for ensuring security around the world and a commitment for good future cooperation at the country, regional, or global level for the treatment of infectious diseases," Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi stated here on Wednesday. In addition, it is expected that the meeting can improve cooperation among countries to control the spread of infectious diseases for at least the next five years, so that an outbreak can be immediately addressed. "We want to develop cooperation because without cooperation we certainly cannot prevent death and disease transmission to other countries," she affirmed. The minister remarked that the eradication of infectious diseases such as Ebola or the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) cannot be singlehandedly achieved by any one country or region. "The challenge is how well prepared all the countries are," she emphasized. Therefore, the Global Meeting on Infectious Diseases was held as a follow-up to the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) and attended by representatives of Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Canada, China, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, the Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Portugal, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, and Spain, among several others. In terms of human health, attention is also given to the control of infectious animal viruses that attack poultry, camels, bats, and monkeys. Minister of Agriculture Suswono who attended the opening ceremony noted that precautions are being taken by the Ministry of Agriculture for early detection through routine surveillance every six months. "There are eight veterinary institutes in Indonesia. Surveillance is done routinely whether there is a case or not," he pointed out. If there was an outbreak such as bird flu that attacked poultry, supervision will determine which recommendations should be followed, for instance, culling. "Currently, the Ministry of Agriculture has established 25 strategic animal diseases, 17 of which are zoonotic and eight non-zoonotic," he emphasized. The GHSA was simultaneously launched in Washington D.C., USA, and the United Nations building, Geneva, on February 13, 2014. The first GHSA meeting held on May 5-6, 2014, in Helsinki, Finland, was also supported by organizations under the United Nations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).